2017 Fantastic Foodie Year

A quiet sort of start to the year decided to try some local pub restaurants The Rabbits & The Orange Tree and have benn pretty pleased then to finish the month back my favourite Place Haywards in Epping. So now on to February and bang what a great start by going to The Artichoke in Amersham for the first time an evening visit with an overnight stay at the Crown Hotel this will be followed by a trip to The Palomar in Soho for some Israeli Cuisine and at the end of the month a Tasting Menu evening at Haywards before beginning March with a visit to the amazing Midsummer House in Cambridge continuing with our first visit to Cafe Spice Namaste an Indian delight then back to Haywards to sample the New Lunch Menu a great month ended with a return to the fantastic Typing Room in Bethnal Green. Now onto April and something I really enjoy sandwiches & cakes at the amazing Claridges Hotel for an outstanding Afternoon Tea a great start to the month which continued with a return visit to the fantastic restaurant The Artichoke and sampled the stunning New Lunch Tasting Menu . Then on the Sunday a delightful Roast at Marygreen Manor Hotel in Brentwood. On Easter Saturday it was back to Haywards for another fantastic lunch the following weekend we had a fabulous overnight stay at Taplow House and enjoyed a fine evening meal in Berry’s Restaurant serving very good English food while overlooking the grounds of the hotel gardens. That brings April to a close onto May when I’ll enjoy a fantastic week away in Lake Garda update soon. So after a fantastic week away tasting some excellent Italian food it was back to my favourite restaurant Haywards for a delightful lunch with the Restaurant Manager Amanda. The month of June is definitely going to be a highlight of the year and it started at Shackfuyu with some fantastic Japanese Cuisine the following week was an Essex treat dining at Rubino Kitchen in Maldon & Haywards in Epping my county should be very proud next on the list was Chotto Matte in the heart of Soho trying the New Weekend Brunch Menu of great Nikkei food before on the Sunday another great Essex pub the Two Brewers in Chigwell for a great roast dinner. The following Saturday was the start of my Anniversary celebrations with lunch at Haywards with excellent food once again our anniversary eve meal was at The Astor Grill at Clivenden House great food in a stunning location before the highlight of the month our stunning Anniversary dinner at The Artichoke in Amersham the quality of the food & service just keeps getting better & better. I think you’ll agree this was a magical month. So into July we go and a new restaurant to try and without doubt the best Turkish meal I’ve ever had at Oklava in Shoreditch the flavours were absolutely stunning this was followed by another new restaurant for me this time on the Kings Road, Chelsea for a really delightful lunch at Medlar great modern French cuisine with a lovely friendly local vibe. Now the following week was a bit different as we dined at Crockers Chefs Table an intimate private dining setting where the chef prepares the food in front of you. The following Saturday it was of to Haywards to sample the New Dishes on the menu and yes they were amazing then on the Sunday another new place for me was Smokestak a fantastic Smokehouse BBQ restaurant which you should definitely put on your list as the food was mouth-wateringly good we ended the month with a trip to Stevenage to stay at the Cromwell Hotel and enjoyed a fine meal in there newly refurbished restaurant the Rump & Wade. Well now we’re in August and we started with a new place for me at Ceviche in Soho and some glorious Peruvian food  and then on the Sunday we tried a local pub The Jobbers Rest that’s been turned into a lovely restaurant and still keeping a nice area just for having a drink. The food is a mixture of French & English dishes. The following Saturday it was back to Haywards for some more stunning food. I will now be taking a break and jetting of to California for a well deserved holiday looking forward to the food which I know will be fantastic so see you soon . Well I’m back after my trip to California and yes I did enjoy some amazing food firstly in Santa Monica at the Water Grill we enjoyed a fantastic seafood platter . Then on to San Diego where it was good to visit a couple of old favourites like Phils BBQ , Bubs at the Ballpark the best sports bar in San Diego , Broken Yolk Cafe and Red Lobster also great to try a couple of new places the Blind Burro and a fantastic place Dukes in La Jolla a really friendly restaurant with amazing views of the coast line plus a great Mexican called Barra Barra Saloon in the Old Town . So back home and in to September and yesterday headed back to the Jobbers Rest in Upminster where I tried a fantastic Cheese Soufflé to start & a memorable Bouillabaisse for my main Full of amazing flavours then finished with a delightful Chocolate Delice. The next two Saturdays were spent at Haywards firstly to sample the new dishes and then to enjoy a fantastic Tasting Menu full of amazing New Dishes . Stay tuned as there’s a big highlight at the end of the month and yes that highlight was a visit to Core by Clare Smyth and it was totally amazing the food & service was excellent just waiting now for the awards to start rolling in definetly a must visit. So into October we went and started with a fantastic return to Oklava in Shoreditch for some more amazing Turkish food then a delightful Sunday Lunch at Jobbers Rest in Upminster where the food and service was once again excellent. Onwards to the following weekend where we visited a lovely little Italian Vini Italiani in the heart of Covent Garden absolutely fantastic place for wine and the food they serve is also a delight then on the Sunday we just fancied a burger and lucky for us our local place the Smokin Griddle serves the best burgers you’ll find anywhere in the Uk. Then the next weekend it was another amazing visit to The Artichoke in Amersham this time for the New Lunch Tasting Menu where the food and service was again excellent and on the Sunday we’ll it had to a fantastic Sunday roast at Haywards. So into the last Sunday of the month where we enjoyed a nice family lunch at The Thatched House in Upminster part of the Vintage Inns chain with nice food and friendly service c u in November So here in November we are and a real treat with a great Cooking Demo at Haywards because although we’ve dined there many times it was good to see chef Jahdre & Rebecca demonstrate how to make a glorious dessert you just don’t realise how much preparation goes into it . On the Sunday it was of to the Jobbers Rest for a delightful lunch with family. The following Saturday took us back to one of my favourites the Typing Room in Bethnal Green where the food , wine & service was one again excellent then it was a midweek outing to support a great book for Essex Chefs & Restaurants with a collaboration dinner at Haywards joined by Rubino Kitchen to produce a fantastic Tasting Menu full of excellent local produce. So now now it’s to the final weekend of the month with a magical stay at Claridges where we enjoyed there amazing Breakfast Menu also on this weekend we enjoyed a fantastic return visit to Jinjuu Mayfair with more amazing Korean food then the following evening we had a fantastic experience by dining at Marcus at the Berkeley with food of the highest quality. We started December with a visit back to Haywards to try the Christmas Menu and of course there legendary Xmas Puddings the following week was another amazing highlight of the the with a fantastic visit to the Ritz for the amazing Menu Surprise where the main course of Beef Wellington was stunning. Well it’s onto the weekend and wow with an amazing return to Core by Clare Smyth and once again it was truly stunning as the food and service was outstanding then to the Sunday for an excellent festive Sunday lunch at the Artichoke in Amersham . Well I suppose there was only one place where we could possibly end our dining year and that was back at my favourite place Haywards for a another glorious festive lunch . This ends my amazing year which certainly has been a great one

That’s all for now Happy Dining